
27 Nov 2013 Health-conscious consumers are nuts about nuts, reports NPD
The recently released Harvard study on the health benefits of eating nuts just confirmed what health conscious-consumers already tell us, that nuts are good for you, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company.
“Whether to meet the needs of the health and weight conscious or as an easy grab-and-go snack, nuts are a popular choice among snackers,” says Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst.
NPD’s food market research finds that nuts rank among the top 10 snack-oriented convenience foods for US consumers motivated by health and weight needs.
Nuts are a popular snack for breakfast and morning snack but are eaten throughout the day by health and weight conscious consumers who want a nutritious, natural, better-for-you snack, according to NPD’s Snacking in America report, which examines long-term attitudes and behaviours about snacking as well as snack selection drivers.
Consumers who are motivated to choose nuts and other better-for-you snacks based on health and weight needs tend to be seniors and empty nesters, adult females, and higher-income households.
The consumption of nuts is not limited to the health and weight conscious, 77 percent of US households have nuts or seeds on-hand, and 19 percent of individuals eat nuts at least once in a two week period, finds NPD.
Nuts are consumed primarily as an in-home snack but are often incorporated into morning, lunch, and dinner meals. In addition to its choice as a healthier snack, nuts are also popular among consumers looking for a filling or quick and convenient snack.
“Whether to meet the needs of the health and weight conscious or as an easy grab-and-go snack, nuts are a popular choice among snackers,” says Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst. “Food manufacturers and retailers have a variety of options and audiences for marketing nuts.”
Source: NPD Group